Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme NEWSLETTER 01/2015 Lynx in Kosovo! firmed presence of the Balkan lynx is a huge step for further research and to jump start Confirmation of Balkan lynx in conservation efforts in Kosovo and cross- border with neighbouring Montenegro and Bjeshkët e Nemuna Albania. In March 2015, Environmentally Responsible Action (ERA) group confirmed the presence Currently ERA group through the Balkan Lynx of the Balkan lynx in Bjeshkët e Nemuna, Recovery Programme has only five camera Kosovo, as part of the Balkan Lynx Recovery traps installed in Bjeshkët e Nemuna. More Programme (BLRP). support is needed for the monitoring and the conservation of this critically endangered The presence of the Balkan lynx in Kosovo species. was confirmed through three photos taken by Bardh Sanaja, ERA group a camera trap installed in the Rugova valley, Peja. The public reaction to these photos was sensational, as these were the first tangible facts from a study for the presence of the lynx Balkan lynx evidence from the Al- in the region after nearly thirty years. banian Alps Balkan lynx pictured in Thethi The mountainous region of the Albanian Alps – part of the larger transboundary region of Bjeshkët e Nëmuna/Prokletije mountains spreading into Kosovo and Montenegro – is likely one of the wildest areas of Europe characterised by very high mountains and deep glacial valleys that are covered with vast expanses of forests on lower altitudes and diverse and rich alpine pastures on the higher parts. The Albanian Alps have been considered as a prime area for lynx presence Fig. 1: One of the three pictures of Balkan lynx in in Albania since the beginning of the Balkan the Rugova valley, Kosovo. Lynx Recovery Programme. This was sup- ported by the Baseline Survey conducted in Although ERA group and the BLRP team has 2006-07, when quantitative questionnaires yet to determine whether the lynx was just indicated Valbona valley as one of the most passing through the Rugova valley, or wheth- promising areas for lynx within the Albanian er there is an active lynx population that is Alps. However, camera-trapping surveys reproducing in Bjeshkët e Nemuna, the con- conducted in Valbona valley by PPNEA re- Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme – Newsletter 01/2015 P a g e | 2 searchers and our local collaborator Cathe- rine Bohne, from “Journey to Valbona” from 2011 onwards, had not unveiled any pictures of Balkan lynx in the area. Sensational evidence however comes now from the adjacent valley of Thethi, where a photo of Balkan lynx was discovered by Catherine in May 2015. What makes this pho- tograph even more amazing – besides prov- ing the presence of Balkan lynx in the Albani- an Alps – is that it was taken with a mobile phone camera by a local nature guide opera- tor named Ardit Jubani. PPNEA has been in close contact with Ardit since the discovery of the photo and has learned more information on the circumstances of how it was taken. Ardit tells PPNEA that the photo was taken on 24 September 2014 and initially he wasn’t aware on the importance it might bare. He Fig. 2: A matter of seconds: Balkan lynx pictured in was guiding a group of tourists along trails on Thethi valley by a local nature guide. the eastern slopes of Thethi valley (bordering with Valbona and Curraj valleys) and the lynx In the coming months, PPNEA will try to in- happened to run behind him just when he vestigate further with camera-trapping meth- was preparing to take a group photo of the odology in and around the region of where tourists. Ardit reiterated that it was pure luck the photo was taken to verify whether the that he had his mobile camera ready; other- occurrence belonged to a single dispersing or wise he would have not had time to take the travelling individual, or whether it is a sign of picture so clearly, as the lynx disappeared in a more established lynx sub-population in the a matter of seconds. Albanian Alps. Aleksandër Trajçe, PPNEA This evidence is good news in three direc- tions for the Balkan lynx project in Albania. Firstly, it gives us a hard fact of lynx presence in a very important area of Albania. Secondly, Fourth deterministic camera- it shows us that the monitoring network that trapping study in Mavrovo NP PPNEA has worked towards in the past years is working efficiently as we were able to get 37 photos of at least 8-9 lynx the news from Catherine, our local collabora- From 15 March to 13 May 2015, MES in co- tor in Valbona. Thirdly, it gives hope for posi- operation with Mavrovo NP conducted the tive wildlife attitudes by tourists and tourist fourth deterministic camera-trapping study operators as the sighting happened in such within the territory of the Park. The main goal an extraordinary circumstance and was ad- was to estimate the number and the density mired and enjoyed by a number of people. of the Balkan lynx population in the Park, as well as to see the population trend by com- Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme – Newsletter 01/2015 P a g e | 3 paring the results with the ones from the pre- Intensive camera-trapping survey vious three studies. 60 camera traps were in Puka-Mirdita and Kukës re- installed at 30 different locations in an area of 332 km². Camera traps were controlled every gions 10 days for functionality inspection, battery replacement, and checking the photos. At least 4 lynx present in northern Albania The study resulted with 37 photos of Balkan Twenty one photos of Balkan lynx of at least lynx from 11 different locations in the Park. 4 different individuals was the result of the Preliminary visual identification by compari- intensive camera-trapping survey conducted son of the pictures reveals a number of 8-9 in Albania by PPNEA during the winter 2014– independent (adult & subadult) lynx individu- 2015. This survey came as a continuation of als, which represents the minimum number several extensive and semi-intensive monitor- present in the Park. Statistical population ing surveys implemented in Albania during estimations by means of capture-recapture the last years (see earlier Newsletters). analysis are under way. Apart from Balkan lynx, we got many photos of the other large The study area was located over the three mammals present in the Park. regions Puka, Mirdita and Kukës, respectively in the Munella, Thirra and Zeba mountains. These mountains extend into the north part of Albania, which is the only area where PPNEA has observed several Balkan lynx (more than 4 different individuals) before. To clarify the status of the “population” in Munella, particu- larly to investigate whether there is reproduc- tion, was a priority question this time. The study area was 300 km², divided into 48 grid cells of 2.5 x 2.5 km. 44 camera traps were spread in 22 cells, set face to face in every second grid. The camera traps were Fig. 3: Photo of one of the other large mammals left to work for approximately 20 days and (though yet small) present in Mavrovo NP. then were checked. The study lasted from 16 December 2014 to 6 June 2015 (due to During the study, the MES team had great heavy snow falls in winter) and was conduct- help from the employees of Mavrovo NP who ed by five people (PPNEA staff and locals). were actively involved in the camera-trapping activities by choosing proper locations, as The survey 2014–2015 brought good results well as the instalment and control of the cam- with a large and diverse number of pictures of era traps. wildlife species. Our cameras obtained 805 Aleksandar Stojanov, MES photos, including 21 photos of Lynx lynx balcanicus, 28 Martens foina, 2 Martes martes, 13 Felis silvestris, 80 Meles meles, 85 Vulpes vulpes, 1 Mustela putorius , 19 Sus scrofa, 493 Lepus europaeus, 5 Canis lupus, Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme – Newsletter 01/2015 P a g e | 4 25 Ursus arctos, 25 Capreolus capreolus , 1 Field activities in southern Kosovo Rupicapra rupicapra, 2 Erinaceus rouma- nicus, 3 Sciurus vulgaris, and 3 birds. Camera-trapping throughout Sharr mountain range & Koritnik areas Finch is carrying out a camera trap survey throughout Sharr mountain range covering a general stretch of about 700 km² and around Koritnik mountain area, basically throughout all mountain ranges in southern Kosovo. We began our inaugural season (2014–2015) in October 2014 by installing all of our 6 camera traps. Eventually during the period 2014/2 three camera traps were stolen from locations far away of each other, thus forcing us to begin the 2015 season with only three cam- era traps. Considering this drawback, we fo- Fig. 4: Balkan lynx pictured in the Munella Mts. cused in identifying the most promising sites for possible lynx and prey presence for these cameras. Thankfully, we were provided with It is very important to highlight that we took four more camera traps and after some diffi- for the first time a photo and video of the culties with the shipment we were able to Balkan lynx in Zeba Mt. (between Kukes and install them in the field at the end of April Mirdita region), which demonstrates that the 2015. distribution range of Balkan lynx goes beyond Munella Mt. Also, the Balkan lynx team found the tracks and scat of lynx in Munella and On one occasion during our field work, we Thira Mt. Compared to the previous camera- met with a forest ranger who told us that a trapping studies in Munella Mt in 2013–2014, local hunter in the northern part of Sharr area there are higher numbers of brown hare, roe killed and stuffed a lynx a few years ago.